Almost Perfect: Adjusting to an Apartment with Street Parking Only

Sometimes the perfect apartment has one drawback: street parking. Sometimes having more cars than allotted parking spots may mean you have to park on the street, but other times your apartment offers no parking whatsoever than the space you can find on the side of the street. Adjusting to an apartment with street parking only is easier if you keep the following ideas in mind:

Make Sure You Have a Proper Permit

Some cities require parking permits for long term street parking, so make sure that you have the adequate documentation in your car when you park. This will assure that you don’t get a ticket for a lack of a permit. Expect to pay a flat monthly fee for your permit.

If your parking spots have meters, check with the city to see if you can park overnight and, if so, whether you can purchase a token or permit so that you don’t have to refill your meter throughout the evening. Your landlord may also have information on where you can get overnight permits and whether you’re allowed to park on the street overnight.

Remember Parking Rules

Having your car towed for a lack of a permit isn’t the only reason you may have your car towed when parking on the street. Many cities have street parking rules, such as switching which side of the street you park on each night in order to accommodate street sweepers. Other rules may include not parking on the street during excessive snow or stormy conditions. You should be aware of your city’s parking rules and have a backup parking plan in mind—at a nearby parking garage, at a friend’s house or at a bus depot, for example.

Don’t Forget to Inform Visitors

Once you’re aware of the street parking rules, you should make sure that all of your visitors are aware as well. If they don’t know which side of the road to park on or they don’t get a proper permit, they could have their cars towed or receive a fine. You may be able to think of nearby public parking where your guests can park and pick them up in your own car in order to save them confusion.

Consider Ditching the Car

Depending on the extent of public transportation in your city, you may actually be better served by forgoing a car altogether. Not only will you save money on gas, car insurance and car maintenance, but you won’t have to worry about street parking permits and rules–or fighting for a parking space. Take the bus, the subway and trains when possible. If you live within walking distance of places at which you can run your errands, you may not need a car when a bicycle and a basket will do.

If you’ve found the perfect apartment, but it only allows street parking, you shouldn’t immediately dismiss the idea of living in that apartment complex. Consider what you’ll have to do to park and whether it’s worth the effort—or if you can feasibly do without a car instead.